The Seattle Times has a feature up this week about Tyler Farrar, a Wenatchee native whose turbulent year has been chronicled by his local paper, The Wenatchee World.

Farrar’s father, Ed, was paralyzed in an accident while biking to work last October. His recovery has inspired both his community and his son to strive to achieve their best.

Farrar’s been doing well so far. The 25 year old shocked the cycling world with impressive stage wins at the Tirreno-Adriatico, a top Italian road race, this spring.

“In the sports often there’s big personalities. Big egos. He’s the opposite of that,” said DL Byron, a biking enthusiast who publishes bike culture blog Bikehugger and has raced several times alongside Farrar.

“Our community calls it talking with your legs.”

Farrar was named to the nine-man U.S. Tour team in late June. He’ll be one the team’s sprinters — the term given to cyclists who love flat terrain and super high speeds.

“They’re like gunslingers — they don’t have any fear,” Byron said. “They know what they need to do and they do it.”

Want to watch the Tour this weekend? Bikehugger has a viewer’s guide for local fans to cheer Farrar along with the rest of the U.S. team.